The Emerging Leaders Program

Applications are closed and participants for the Class of 2009 Emerging Leaders have been selected. Official press release and a list of participants should be out soon.

What Is the Emerging Leaders Program?

Emerging Leaders began in 2007 as one of ALA Immediate Past President Leslie Burger’s six initiatives. The Emerging Leaders program enables newer librarians from across the country to participate in problem-solving workgroups; network with peers; gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. It puts them on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership.

For more information, contact Beatrice Calvin, Program Officer, ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment.

How Are Emerging Leaders Chosen?

The selection committees seek diversity based on geography, gender, ethnicity and type of library. They pay particular attention to, and value candidates' statements as well as those of their references.

Handouts from Seattle, WA 2007 Midwinter Meeting

A wiki page for ELs to submit questions and answers to one another about any aspect of their projects or the program in general.

Tools for Projects

Project Management Software - If you are looking for software to pull together timelines, tasks, and group chat features, a great resource is a free account from BaseCamp.

ALA's own Online Communities is a virtual workplace open to all ALA Members. You can request a community and set it up with chat, forums, announcements, and more. Visit http://communities.ala.org, and login with your ALA website login (usually your member number) and website password. Not sure what they are or want them changed? Call ALA Member and Customer Service at 1-800-545-2433, press 5 to get MACS, and then 4 to update your profile. To bypass the learning curve involved in setting up a new community, request administrator training from Louise Gruenberg, ALA's e-learning instructional designer.